72 Hours in Isles of Scilly - a Local's Guide
As we emerge out of lockdown 3.0 and start looking for ways to escape the everyday whilst keeping safe and being responsible, don’t forget that we have some wild, off the beaten track adventures right here on home turf.
My favourite place - and somewhere I have been drawn back to again and again - is Isles of Scilly. This little cluster of islands off the Cornish coast is honestly somewhere I consider a genuine hidden gem of the UK. It’s so unspoilt and it’s an adventure seekers paradise. From island hopping by SUP or kayak, coasteering, snorkelling with wild seals, hiking and cycling and open water swimming as well as miles of white, sandy beaches - it’s got it all. So much so, I dedicated two chapters of my paddle boarding guide book to routes on the Isles of Scilly.
Last time I visited was in August 2020 as part of Visit England’s Escape the Everyday campaign. I spent three days paddling, swimming and eating my way round the islands. The guidelines in place from Visit England meant the entire experience felt completely safe too. So, here’s my local’s guide to visiting Isles of Scilly based on all my favourite experiences over there - and some little tips on all the important stuff like where to catch the best sunsets!
HOW TO GET TO ISLES OF SCILLY
The SkyBus leaves daily from Land’s End, Exeter and Newquay and costs around £180 return and takes around 30 minutes but it varies on departure location. The boat - known as the Scillionan - leaves daily and costs around £125. It’s a good option for carrying sports equipment or camping gear and the weight restrictions on the SkyBus are fairly restrictive. The other option is the helicopter which takes around 15 minutes.
WHERE TO STAY
There are a lot of campsites dotted around Isles of Scilly. My favourite is on Bryher, sat on a rolling hilltop overlooking the Tresco channel. The Garrison, on St Mary’s,
GETTING ON THE WATER
WAYS TO GET AROUND
Rented golf buggies are commonplace as a mode of transport on these islands as are electric and standard bikes on St Mary’s. These are also available on Tresco and a brand-new hop on electric bus service is also under development and will be ready to service visitors from 2021. Taking this approach is ideal if you’re doing an off-island day trip (recommended for a 72-hour break) as it means covering more ground in less time so you can get a much fuller experience.
Talking of day trips, Scilly Boating has services that run daily serving all the islands. It’s important to check tides and timings as this change frequently (the website is updated with this info). St Martin’s is my favourite island, and it has some of the world’s (yes, world’s) most beautiful beaches.
STEP BACK IN HISTORY
There’s a huge amount of history attached to Scilly as it played a key role in the English Civil War back in 1600s. Take a stroll up to the extensive coastal fortification – known as the Garrison - on St Mary or head to the remains of Cromwell’s Castle on Tresco which looks out on the channel towards Bryher. On a spring tide you can walk across.
STRETCH YOUR LEGS
Over 50% of Scilly is looked after by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, giving nature the space to thrive and visitors to enjoy. That’s 678 hectares There’s countless island walks to enjoy and the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust has been working hard to make routes both accessible and beautiful. Throughout the islands you will stumble across unmanned shops and stalls selling local goods. The tradition here is to pay honestly by leaving money equal to the value of goods at the stall. Honesty shops continue to be a big part of island life and this trusting relationships between tourists and locals is what makes this place so special.
There’s also the Tresco Abbey Gardens to stroll around and overload the senses with some of the rarest flora and fauna found in England thanks to the islands position on the Gulf Stream and its generally milder climates.
ADDED EXTRAS:
BEST VIEW: Sunset the top of the Garrison on St Mary’s.
LOCAL INSIGHT: Pilot gig racing is a heritage on Scilly and remains a big part of island life. Watch the locals compete every Sunday evening from the Quay on St Mary’s.
WI-FI: Although this place is best enjoyed without the distraction of technology, the Isles of Scilly island is very well connected and in July 2020 was one of the first regions in the UK to pilot 5G.
